High-pressure injection device



June 1954 A. K. SUTERMEISTER 2,680,439

HIGH-PRESSURE INJECTION DEVICE Filed Sept. 8; 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l ILQ\ ATTORNEY-S June 8, 1954 A. K. SUTERMEISTER' HIGHPRESSURE INJECTION DEVICE FIG 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8,

ww/wae Patented June 8, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,680,439 HIGH-PRESSURE INJECTION DEVICE Arnold K. Sutcrmeister, New York, N. Y.

Application September 8, 1948, Serial No.

21 Claims. (01. 128173) This invention is a high pressure injection device for injecting a medicament, serum, vaccine, hormone, drug, anaesthetic or the like into animate or inanimate bodies.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved pressure and is ejected through a very fine nozzle so that the substance being injected enters the body without forming a puncture, of the type formed by a hypodermic needle.

to enter the body, the stream forming a microscopic puncture which is scarcely visible.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, two interconnecting ferent size.

as expressed by the area of the larger piston with respect to the area of the smaller piston.

The cartridge used may conveniently be charged with carbon dioxide or air or other gases puncturing the cartridge and releasing the gas for actuating the pistons, as above described.

scribed in more detail below.

In order to reload assembled and safety preventing accidental operation until the device has been completely The medicament to be injected is conveniently loaded into the device in a capsule which may be hermetically sealed for preventing any contamination, this capsule being ruptured by the smaller piston, which rupture may be aided by a hollow spike, as will be described, for injecting the the fine orifice.

In another modification, the gas cartridge is punctured by rotating the breech containing it,

.to force the cartridge against a rupturing spike,

8 is a sectional view of an escape valve. erring now to these needle, provides a passage orifice I.

The nozzle 2 is capsule in position,

Cylinder 5 is sure piston 8 conveniently as shown in Fig. 1. provided with a small, high preswhich is interconnected with and integral with a larger piston I0 working in a larger cylinder I l. Cylinder i I is provided with a head or cap [2.

Piston l0 and cylinder wall II are provided as will be described.

The large piston 10 is spring pressed downwardly by the spring I5. The head of piston I 0 is provided with a valve opening l6 controlled by a downwardly opening valve l7, urged upwardly to the closed position by a spring HA. The cap Threaded to the underside of cap l2, in an internally threaded nipple I2, is a breech member 25, the upper end of which is threaded as at 20 to engage with nipple l2. Breech member releasing cartridge 22, the gas being released when it is punctured by the spike l9. Cartridge 22 is provided with guide fins 23, primarily for convenience in unloading the spent capsule.

The cartridge 22 is adapted to contain gas, such as air or carbon dioxide for example, under high pressure.

When the cartridge 22 is ruptured or fired, high pressure gas is released and travels through apertures 18, forcing the large piston upwardly against spring 65, thereby applying .a-greatly multiplied pressure against the smaller piston 8. This crushes the capsulefi, the spike '3 .puncturing the upper end of the capsule so that the contents thereof are ejected at a very high pressure and velocity through the fine aperture l.

When the piston reaches the upper end of its stroke, valve {'5 makes contact with cylinder head ll, opens, and exhaust apertures iii-and H, come into registry, and the gas is released through apertures l5, l3 and it and springlii returns the pistons to their originalpositions.

Hammer mechanism, trigger release mechanism for the hammer and safety latches for the trigger and hammer mechanism will be now described.

the housing, stem 2% being squared where it passes through the flange to prevent-its twisting. The lower end of the hammer is provided with a latching shoulder .31 adapted to be engaged and held by thenose 32 of the sear 33, which sear is pivoted at 34. The sear is normally urged to latching position with the hammer by the flat spring 35. The scar is released from the trigger by a push button 35.

In order to prevent accidental operation of the push button, a safety latch 31 is provided which I is slotted at 38, the slot engaging a guide pin or rivetdt. The right hand end of the latch 311s adaptedto engage in'a notch tuinthe pushbutton and is normally held in latching position by a flat spring 4!. Positive movement of the latch to the left against spring 5! is necessary before the push button 36 can be operated. When so operated, the hammer is released, spring 28 forcing the hammer upward, in turn forcingthe cartridge against spike 59, thereby releasing high pressure gas to operate the pistons, as already described.

When the high pressure gas is released the recoil or reaction causes the cartridge to move downward in the breech member 2i against hammer 25 causing this andparts 21 and 29 to move downward, compressing spring 28. Nose 32 of sear 33 drops over latching shoulder 31 because of the tension of spring 35. The trigger mechanism is now cooked for another injection. As tapered hammer 2s moves downward it seats on tapered seat 233, preventing escape of gas.

After the gas has been released from the cartridge 22, housing H is unscrewed, the spent cartridge removed and a fresh one inserted in the breech 2i. The fins 23 provide convenient gripping points for pliers for this purpose.

A further safety latch is provided for preventing the operation of the hammer before thehousing H has been completely reassembled with the' order to prevent its twisting.

breech 2!. This safety latch comprises a vertically slidable rod 42 which passes through upper and lower flanges 21 and 30, being squared where it passes through one or both flanges, in This rod is urged upwardly by spring 13. The lower end of the rod 52 is provided with a lateral off-set 42' which is adapted to move in and out of the path of a lug -33 on-seari33. hen the parts are disassembled, latch rod 42 is moved upwardly by spring 53 so thatlugs 12 and 33' are in engagement so that sear tscannot be operated to release the hammer. This would be the position when the parts are disassembled. When the parts are completely assembled, rod 4'2 is pushed downwardly, the described lugs are disengaged and as .faras the safety rod is concerned, the sear 33 may be operated to release thehammer, subject further of course to manual release of the latch 31.

Referring now to the modified safety latch shown in Figs. 3 and a, trigger button 45 movable in guide liiA is provided with an extension 45B adapted to contact the lower arm 33" of sear.33, being urged toward the sear by a light spring it. Latch member 31 has a slot 41 in which-is engaged a guidepin 48; latch 31' is normally urged to the left by a flat spring 49. Latch 3i engages in a slot 50 in button 45.

One side of button as is slotted asat 5| and pivoted on pin 52. .In this slot is a catch 53, this catch being'engaged by-a springifl. to move it clockwise, to engage an edge of cap M, when moved counterclockwise, catcheti is disengaged, as in Fig. 4.

This latch mechanism operates as follows: The recoilfrom discharge forces the hammer and sear arm 33" downwardly, spring 54 turns .catch 53 to engage' l i, asinFig. 3. This prevents fur- .ther discharge, even if pressure is maintained .and'button 15 moves back to the previous position. The edge ofcatch 53 is now above the lower edge 55 of cap M, as indicated inFig. 4 and cannot rotate back under the spring pressure of 5A to the position indicated in Fig. 3. To complete discharge the latch 3'! is moved all the way to the left so that it is completely disengaged both from slot 5! and from shoulder 51 on button 45. The button can now be pushed in to effect the discharge.

Thepurpose of this device .is .to insure a positive engagement of catch 53 uponrecoilof the gas cartridge from the previous discharge and to prevent a repeated discharge of the hammer mechanism by failure of the operator .to remove his finger from the catch 3'! and button 45.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, only a single cylinderis used, instead of the two cylinders of Fig. 1. Cap member 88, threaded onto breech 2i, carriesa rupturing spike l9 and gas escape holes 62. Cap member (50 is threaded'to receive a cylinder 64, containing a piston 66. The

upper ended of the piston bears against capsule 6. In operation, whenzthe cartridge isruptured by be ng driven against spi re i9, the'gas drives pistoncfi up to rupture the capsule 5 and ejectthe medicament in a fine high pressure stream atzl. 'By this :time, the pistonhas cleared or grooved to exhaust ports 69 and is returned to its original position by spring iii. A cover 72, provided with this form breech member 74 for the gas cartridge a knurled lower end 75, is threaded 80 having its lower edge beveled and sharpened at 8| to bite into a gasket 82. Just above the gasket is a gas escape hole 84.

Member '18 also has threaded into its upper part a cylinder 86, having gas exit holes 83 and a piston 9%, bearing at its A mufiier sleeve like 12, Fig. 5, could be used with Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 7, the spike l9 facilitate the escape is corrugated of gas through the grooves.

While the several been described in some detail, it should be unprecise details shown, but may be carried out in other Ways within the scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A high pressure injection device comprising a cylinder, an injection nozzle, having a fine said cartridge into said cylinder for operating said piston, and a safety latch for preventing accidental operation of said manually controlled gas releasing means.

2. A high nected to the breech member for reloading the breech, trigger mechanism in said housing, and safety means cooperating with said trigger mechanism for preventing accidental operation thereof.

5. A high pressure injection device, comprising a cylinder, a fine in ection strike the cartridge for effecting the release of gas therefrom, and trigger means for releasing said hammer.

6. A high pressure injection device, comprising a cylinder, a fine injection nozzle cooperating with said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder for forcing fluid out of said nozzle, a breech member,

mer, and safety latch dental operation of said trigger means.

7. A high pressure injection device, comprising a cylinder,

strike the cartridge for effecting the release of means for releasing said hammer, and engageable with the hammer on its recoil to hold it in cocked position for the next operation.

8. A high pressure injection device, comprising cartridge reloading, trigger mechanism in said housing, and a safety latch cooperating with said trigger mechanism for preventing accidental operation thereof until the trigger housing and breech member have been completely reassembled, following a reloading operation.

10. A high pre rupturing engagement, the side of said cylinder being provided with a lateral exhaust port normally sealed against escape by said piston, said exhaust port being positioned. so as to be cleared by said piston after it has completed its fluid expelling stroke, for thereby providing a lateral passage through the side wall or" said cylinder for the escape of residual high pressure gas.

11. A high pressure injection device, comprising a cylinder, an injection nozzle having a fine orifice cooperating with said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder for forcing fluid at high pressure out of said nozzle, a sealed gas cartridge carried by said injection device and containir" under high pressure, a spike mounted a .,accnt said means for moving the gas cartridge and spilse into rupturing engagement, the side of said cylinder being provided with a lateral exhaust port normally sealed against gas escape by said piston, said exhaust port being so as to be cleared by said piston after it has completed its fluid expelling stroke, for thereby providing a lateral passage through the side wall of said cylin der for the escape of residual high pressure gas, and a cover surrounding and spaced from said cylinder and provided with gas escape apertures, for venting gas released from said exhaust port.

12. A high pressure injection device, comprising a cylinder, an injection nozzle having a fine orifice cooperating with said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder for forcing fluid at high pressure out of said nozzle, a sealed gas cartridge carried by said injection device and containing gas under high pressure, a spike mounted adjacent said cartridge, means for moving the cartridge into rupturing contact with said spike, the side of said cylinder being provided with a lateral exhaust port normally sealed against escape by said piston, said exhaust port being positioned so as to be cleared by said piston aiter it cornpleted its fluid expelling stroke, for thereby providing a lateral passage through the side wall of said cylinder for the escape of residual high pressure gas, and a spring, operatively connected with said piston, and adapted to be compressed on the power stroke of the piston, for restoring the piston to its original position after the release of the gas pressure through said lateral exhaust port.

13. A high pressure injection device, comprising a cylinder, an injection nozzle having a fine orifice cooperating with said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder for forcing fluid at high pressure out of said nozzle, a sealed gas cartridge carried by said injection device and containing gas under high pressure, a spike mounted adjacent said cartridge, and a spring actuated hammer for eiiecting rupturing contact of said cartridge and spike, the side of said cylinder being provided with a lateral exhaust port normally sealed against gas escape by said piston, said exhaust port being pos'tioned so as to be cleared by said piston after it has completed its fluid expelling stroke, for thereby providing a lateral passage through the side wall of said cylinder for the escape of residual high pressure gas.

1 1-. A high pressure injection device, comprising a cylinder, an injection nozzle having a fine orifice cooperating with said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder for forcing fluid at high pressure out of said nozzle, a sealed gas cartridge carried by said injection device and containing gas under high pressure, a spike mounted adjacent said cartridge, a spring actuated hammer for efiecting rupturing contact or said cartridge and spike, the

side of said cylinder being provided with a lateralexhaust port normally scaled against gas escape by said piston, said exhaust port being positioned so as to be cleared by said piston after it has completed its fluid expelling stroke, for thereby providing a lateral passage through the side wall of said cylinder for the escape of residual high pressure gas, and a manually operated trigger for releasing said hammer.

15. The combination as set forth in claim 14, further including a safety latch for securing said trigger against accidental release.

16. A high pressure injection device, comprising a cylinder, an injection nozzle having a fine orifice connected with said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder; a breech member detachably connected at one end with said cylinder and adapted to contain a sealed gas cartridge; a housing detachably connected with the other end of said breech member, a spike for rupturing said gas cartridge; and a spring operated hammer mounted in said housing for driving the gas cartridge and spike into engagement.

1'?. A high pressure injection device, comprising a cylinder, an injection nozzle having a fine orifice connected with said cylinder, a piston in said c'linder; a breech member detachably coni ected at one end with said cylinder and adapted to contain a sealed gas cartridge; a housing detachably connected with the other end of said breech member; a spike for rupturing said gas cartridge; a spring operated hammer mounted in said housing for driving the gas cartridge and into engagement, and a manually operated trigger for releasing said. hammer.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 16, further including a second and smaller cylinder acting to connect said first cylinder with said injection nozzle, and a second and smaller piston carried by said first piston and movable in said second and smaller cylinder.

19. The combination as set forth in claim 16, further including a second and smaller cylinder acting to connect said first cylinder with said injection nozzle, a second and smaller piston carried by said first piston and movable in said second and smaller cylinder, and a safety latch co operating with said spring-operated hammer for preventing accidental release thereof.

20. The combination as set forth in claim 16, wherein said cylinder is provided with an exhaust port and wherein said piston is provided with a one-way valve adapted to be opened on completion of the piston stroke, for allowing gas to pass through the valve and out of said exhaust sort.

2].. The combination as set forth in claim 16, wherein said cylinder is provided with a lateral exhaust port and wherein said piston is provided with a one-way valve adapted to be opened on completion or the piston stroke, said piston further having an aperture adapted to register with said exhaust port on completion of the piston stroke.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 921,130 Lockwood May 11, 1909 2,322,244 Lockhart June 22, 1943 2,322,245 Lockhart June 22, 1943 2,380,534 Lockhart July 31, 1945 2,390,246 Folkman Dec. 4, 1945 2,413,393 Folkman Dec. 31, 1946 2&59375 Follzman Jan. 25, 1949 2,547,099 Smoot Apr. 3, 1951 

